Man seeks arrest for warmth, shelter

A 29-year-old man tried to turn himself into the regional jail last night for possessing marijuana, because he was seeking a warm place to stay for the night.

He came to the jail around 10 p.m., saying he had a “large amount of marijuana.” He then walked away, and called 911 from a nearby gas station, again saying he wanted to turn himself in.

A deputy responded, and found the man had less than an ounce of marijuana. He was given a citation, and the deputy took him to the Warming Place, a volunteer-run shelter at the St. Vincent de Paul Society office at 315 W. 3rd St.

The shelter opened Nov. 19 and operates on nights that are 30 degrees or colder, including the wind chill, or 35 degrees or colder, not including wind chill, if there’s precipitation.

Tonight will be the ninth night the shelter has been open this season, said Ed Elliott. Last year, the shelter had about 120 volunteers, who work in two-person shifts.